Game in a nutshell: On a steamy night on South Capitol Street, the Nationals stayed hot against the Rays. A couple of runs in the bottom of the second put them ahead, and though Gio Gonzalez gave the run back, the left-hander battled his way through an effective outing and kept the game tied entering the bottom of the sixth. That's when Danny Espinosa delivered a clutch, two-out, two-run double off Joel Peralta to give the Nats a 4-2 lead and put Gonzalez in line for the win. They added an insurance run on Roger Bernadina's double in the seventh, then saw relievers Ryan Mattheus, Sean Burnett and Tyler Clippard slam the door on the Tampa Bay lineup, in the process giving the Nationals another series victory over a tough AL East opponent.

Hitting highlight: It looked like this would be another one of those nights when Espinosa looks unstoppable from the right side (and onlyRead more »

At 17-12 the Nats clinch a winning record for the 32-game gantlet. Fabulous.Don't know about you folks, but I'm looking forward to the Padres and the Cubbies.On to Balmer to fight the dreaded Hon.GYFNG!

How sweet have Burnett & Clippard been? Its just crazy. Marlins and Phillies both lose and we are 13 games over .500. Someone pinch me!!I have a bet with my nephew who pitches for Stevenson University outside Baltimore and we need to win two of three so I do not have to wear Orioles gear to a Nationals game next season. I won't mind getting him a ticket, its the Orioles gear I will not be happy with. If we sweep I get to go to an O's game with him in Nats gear.Go Nats!!

All's well that ends well? So many decisive moments in the game. Some games they go our way , some games they don't. Glad they did this time. The minor league home plate ump missed a few. (dozen) Good to see Ryan hit, Danny hit, Gio recover, awesome baserunning with the double steal and Desi "harpering" from first to second when they infielders don't call time. Nice hustle all around. Pretty sweet and with a nice, big crowd full of Natitude.

I was sitting three rows right in front of Ficker. It was so incredibly annoying. He wasn't heckling, except for calling out about pine tar 6 times in the first two innings, then spending the whole game yelling for "Bryce Harper come on home," and other inane BS. He's one of those cretins who thinks he bigger than the game and that people come to be entertained by him.

As I lumber home from the Metro through muggy streets — having spent a very pleasant couple of innings hanging with DC Wonk and his intensely Nats fan family (raisin' em right!), I wondered how long it took us to get to 40 wins in seasons past. (40+ wins is a distinction we now share with the OTHER 3 best teams — Rangers, Dodgers, Yanks.). Also noted that NO TEAM has fewer losses (27) than we do. And if Timmons had done us justice on Saturday, we would have the fewest losses — and a better record than the Yanks. No, I'm not going to give that up quite yet.

As noted by Davey, Joe Madden has a Tweeter. This is how he used it after tonight's game:Joe Maddon ‏@RaysJoeMaddonYou don't like to see them but you are going to make mental mistakes. Today we were just chock full of them.Yeah, Joe==> including yours!!! You don't try a double-steal when the batter is going to swing and foul. Take lessons, sir, take lessons from the MASTER!!!!

Gonat said…… give Lombo some time at 2nd? After watching Espi the last few games batting LH, looks like the same results. 0-3 last night with 2 K's. Oh yah, that's right, Espi is perfecting his shorter swing.Gonat, thanks for the reverse lock! Maddon was thinking the same thing — walking LaRoche to pitch to Espi-as-lefty.

Me to my husband after watching a rally in last night's game: Who are these guys and what have they done with my team?My husband to me: Who cares? I like these guys better. (I've always loved my Nats no matter what but danged if he doesn't have a point. :-))

NatsLady"I expect Rizzo will go for Bourne, but I wouldn't mind BJ."There has been some buzz lately about Jacoby Ellsbury. He is a free agent after this year and his agent is – whatsisname? – oh, yeah, Scott Boras. The Bosox may not be willing to resign Ellsbury, given his recent history of injuries, and they have a young guy who they think is ready to take Ellsbury's place for a lot less money.Ellsbury would solve so many of the Nats problems – CF, lead-off, another leftie bat with power, speed and a high OBP, and who is a real pro. He would fit right in.And they still have Corey Brown. Not in Ellsbury's class, but an upgrade at the plate over Ankiel.